Call for women to join over-16s football team

Battyeford Belles, the girls football teams based at Battyeford Sporting Club, is setting up a new open-age team for women aged 16 and over.

The Belles thriving, with 10 teams available for girls under 16 to join, but currently there is nowhere in Mirfield for older women to go.

Head of Girls Football Chris Hoyle said: “We have girls from the ages of six to 16, but we’ve never had an open age ladies team.

“What happens is they just all tend to fall out of football after that age.”

A meeting is being held at Mirfield Free Grammar (MFG) in the sport centre classroom on Tuesday April 26 at 6.45pm for ladies interested in joining. Mr Hoyle said experience was not necessary but advantageous. “We’ve had a lot of interest from sixth-formers and teachers at MFG, but we want to get a good mix,” he added.

The Belles are already one of the largest female football teams in the English Football Association (FA), and they hope to have 11 or 12 teams by next season.

Girls football has been running at Battyeford Sporting Club for around 20 years, but in the last five years it has really taken off. “A lot of effort has been put into building it up and it is one of the biggest in the country now,” Mr Hoyle said.

Call Mr Hoyle on 07773817763 for more information.

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